Buying 7D but really need an articulating LCD for low angle shooting ~
For composition, not focus! Any ideas for small flippable lcd moniter attached to cam via tripod screw or access shoe or both ~ under $500 if possible.

Varizoom has a cheap one: VariZoom monitors, Zoom controls, Camera Stabilizers & Supports, Batteries, Monitor Kits Phone:512-219-7722 (http://varizoom.com/products/monitors/vztft7.html) (B&H carries their stuff, I think). And Ikan has more expensive HD ones. Check B&H, there are a number of small ones out there that can be mounted on a $20 hotshoe bracket that tilts.

The Varizoom is not HD, of course. Sometimes they list these monitors at 1440x234 resolution, but I the lines are 480 x 234, or whatever. As I recall they say 1440 because they multiply the three horizontal pixels that make up each pixel point.

I picked up a low budget kit at LCD4Video that works decently for framing on the a/v out ports of the 5D, and will probably work the same for the 7D

I plan to use my portable Sony DVD player with a nice, fairly bright/contrasty, folds-back-over-self 9" LCD screen and RCA Video In ... It's 800x480, and also has 3.5mm HEADPHONE OUT :) -- two of them, actually.
A smaller, lighter monitor would be great, the DVD parts and big flat (but 6+hr) battery make it fairly substantial (nearly 2lbs), but I plan to make:

1. A tripod leg mount platform for it with a way to secure it

2. Possibly a ground-level shooting platform for DVD screen and camera with pro-camcorder-like handle on it so I can do low level hiking/biking/? shots following along, etc.

I believe this is what I have at home, the Sony DVP-FX930:
Sony | DVP-FX930 Portable DVD Player (Black) | DVPFX930 | B&H (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/602457-REG/Sony_DVPFX930_DVP_FX930_Portable_DVD_Player.html)

It'll also be usable for portable presentations, w/ Video/Audio OUT -- and it came with a 12V car cord that'll come in handy.
I recommend a high-quality 12V DC to 110V AC inverter for camera/laptop batt carging on the go, though.